GEORGE CLOONEY - CLOONEY'S SINGLE LIFE

Film hunk GEORGE CLOONEY blames fame and fortune for preventing him from finding an Italian girlfriend - because his celebrity status keeps him locked up in his villa.

The OCEAN'S ELEVEN heartthrob, who spends half the year in his Lake Como, Italy, property, finds his dates are always disastrous because he's swarmed by masses of eager snappers and reporters.

He says, "I haven't gone out. To the European press, I'm fresh meat. That kind of frenzy - you have to be really up for it. Dinner out is an ordeal.

"The minute you start dating it's pictures and stories and that puts the pressure on immediately. So you have to decide, before you go out in public, if you are willing to take those hits."

And the charismatic star admits his inability to speak the Italian language has caused problems in his European relationships - and one Italian girlfriend split with him after just three dates.

He says, "I knew it was in trouble during a phone conversation. She'd just say, 'Oh, Geoooorge,' and I'd just say, 'Ohhh, you.'"